CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. The Background of the Study
English has different characteristics from other sciences and social subjects in schools. The differrence is laid on the language function as a
communication tool, and as a consequence language has a central act on students’ development social, emotional, and intelligence. So that the language achievement
becomes one of the decisive key to the success in learning all subjects. Language as a means of communication is produced by combining words
into sentences. Before combining words into sentences, the language users should understand about word’s meaning which is called vocabulary. Learning
vocabulary is closely related with learning about words. There is no vocabulary without words. According to Milton 2009:3, words are the building blocks of
language and without them there is no language. Knowing about a language should be preceded by knowing about vocabulary so that the communication can
be done well. In addition, vocabulary has a strong relationship with one’s intelligence. As Napa 1991: 6 says that vocabulary is one of the components of
language and that no language exists without words. Words are the sign or symbols for ideas. They are the means by which people exchange their thoughts.
The more words people learn the more ideas people should have, so that they can communicate the ideas more effectively.
In Indonesia is a foreign language, it is the most popular language. English is the important language for learning. It is proved by the increasing number of
school which includes English as their subject. English used to be taught firstly in Junior High School, but now days, most of Elementary schools also make English
as their subject. People can find the words in spoken or written form since words are the
building blocks for all of the skills in language namely speaking, listening, writing, and reading. In relation to reading, there is a strong connection between
vocabulary and reading itself. Bromley 2004, in a comprehensive review of research on vocabulary development, concludes that vocabulary knowledge
promotes reading fluency, boost reading comprehension, improves academic achievement, and enhances thinking and communication. The more words people
have the easier people can comprehend a text and those words are obtained partially from the text that people read.
Teaching English in Indonesia is based on KTSP curriculum. The purpose of teaching English based on KTSP is to develop communication skill in English
language. The skill is not only reading, listening, speaking and writing, but also in achievement of vocabulary important too.
Many students have difficulties to improve their achievement of English vocabulary. One of the problems is the students do not understand the meaning of
English vocabulary. In the process of teaching and learning vocabulary, the teachers are not using media. They introduce new English word to the students
and then ask them to find the meaning by using dictionary.However, the most of the students do not bring dictionary in English lesson.So, the process of teaching
English vocabulary does not run well, becausethe students are passive in the classroom. It means that vocabulary is one of the important skills to the students.
Allen 1997:149 states that vocabulary is very important in a language, when we learn a language like English, we learn the words of language. Students
must continue to learn words as they learn structure as they practice in target language. Through vocabulary, we convey our ideas, emotion and efficiently. The
students are also difficult to deliver their ideas because of their limitation of vocabulary. On the other hand, some students don’t have self-confidence speaking
using that vocabulary. As consequences, students will be difficult to communicate to each other or share their opinion.
To solve the problems, teachers do something to help their students to improve their vocabulary achievement. The writer wants to conduct an experiment
on the use of word walls as an alternative in teaching, The Junior High School students are given something new and different from what they usually get in
class. In other words, the teacher makes the students active instead of being silent. Through this study, the writer wants to find out a new teaching technique to
increase the quality of English teaching learning process in Junior High School.
The reason of the writer uses scramble game in teaching vocabulary is the students can study how spell the words, how to write the words and what the
meaning of the words in the same time. The other reason why the writer choose the media for teaching vocabulary is it trains the students memorizing the words.
The writer also interested with the study about media in order to motivate childrento learn English with fun and enjoy. Scramble game is considered as an
effective and enjoyable game to teach vocabulary because it enables students to practice and discuss the meaning of vocabulary through team work. By applying
this game, the stude nts’ vocabulary achievement is hoped to improve. Scramble
game is going to be applied in the classroom of junior high school where the students will divided into some groups. Then they are asked to match the question
cards with the right answer cards. In addition the answer cards are in the scramble form, so the students should arrange the random words first before they match it
to the questions cards. This study will be useful and meaningful to increase the students’ vocabulary mastery.
B. The Problem of the Study
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